May 22nd - May 28th

Padua, May 26th (Adnkronos) - More than 250 Porsche 356s from all over the world (even Oman) are invading the streets of Veneto and in particular the ones bridging the provinces of Padua, Rovigo and Venice, to take part in the 31st edition of their international gathering. All the crews, after a circuit on the Veneto Po Delta, will tomorrow stop off at the Adria circuit that will remain at the complete disposition of the participants for the entire day. On Sunday a big parade in the square of the Padua Sheraton and then each Porsche will set off on the road home.

Rome, May 26th - (Adnkronos) - The authority on tourism entrusted to Cultural Heritage Minister and Vice Premier Francesco Rutelli receives Enit’s praise. Satisfaction over the end of the isolation of the tourism sector was expressed by Special Commissioner Amedeo Ottaviani, speaking at the national conference ''Turismo italiano? … e' in vacanza. Politiche e investimenti per il rilancio del turismo italiano nella competizione mondiale'' [Italian Tourism? … it’s on holiday. Policies and investments for the relaunch of Italian tourism in world competition], organized in Ferrara during the course of the Exchange of the 100 Italian Art Cities.

Civitavecchia, May 26th (Adnkronos) - The new Civitavecchia-Catania-Malta Sea Highway line for transport is set to start. The Grimaldi Group launches the new connection that will for now take place twice a week, departing on Tuesday and Saturday. The new offer, which starts from May 30th, was presented today during the course of a press conference in Civitavecchia.

Rome, May 26th (Adnkronos) - For children the most educational summer holiday is the one in the country. This was stated by 55 percent of the Italians who participated in a survey promoted by the site www.coldiretti.it, revealed on occasion of the final scholastic day of the project “Educazione alla Campagna Amica” [Education in the Friendly Countryside] with lessons on the farm over the weekend for tens of thousands of children throughout Italy: from Rome to Florence, Cremona to Bari and Matera.

Rome, May 26th (Adnkronos) - In Rome the first Sightjogging route for differently-abled people. 41-year-old disabled athlete Rosario Brizzi, member of the ASCIP (Italian Cultural and Sports Association for Paraplegics), will tomorrow run with the two 'Sightjogging' trainers. Lolek’s torch will be symbolically lit on departure, in honor of John Paul II, to whom the event is dedicated.

Brussels, May 25th - (Adnkronos) - Tourism, one of the most important sectors for the economies of costal areas, will fully enter European maritime policy. This was announced, a few days from the publication of the European Commission’s Green Paper on maritime policy, by the 155 Regions reunited in the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe (CPMR). Regions that, after having directly contributed to the preparation of the Green Paper, have welcomed with great satisfaction the introduction of tourism among its key elements.

Lamezia Terme, May 25th - (Adnkronos) - Create a new network of operators and tourism structures in Calabria in order to upgrade the already existing non-hotel offer and to support the start up and accompaniment of young entrepreneurs. This is the aim of the Equal Tourjob Project, now in its operational phase and aimed at the development of travel agency networks in Calabria, presented today in Lamezia, at the seat of Need Partners. The lack of subsidized credit accesses and stable agreements or partnerships between companies, local actors and national and international operator networks make the construction and duration of new entrepreneurial realties difficult after the first two years.

Lucca, May 25th (Adnkronos) - The new website, a DVD on the most picturesque images of Versilia and a publication on the typical products and characteristic recipes of the territory. These are the new promotional channels of the Versilia Tourism Promotion Agency (APT), presented this morning by APT director Renato Baldi, Province President Andrea Tagliasacchi, Tourism Councillor Patrizio Petrucci and the project’s administrators.

Florence, May 25th - (Adnkronos) - ''Ruralia'', the Florence Province show dedicated to agriculture, animals and the environment, will be inaugurated tomorrow, Friday May 26th, in the Medici Park of Pratolino. Zootechnic pavilions with exhibitions of the main bovine, equine, ovine and swine species; dog shows, exhibitions of mushrooms, hunting trophies, minerals and ancient mining instruments, will take place until Sunday May 28th in the splendid setting of the park, from 10am to 8pm with free entry.

Riccione, May 25th - (Adnkronos) - The season of Aquafan park, which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, reopens on June 1st. The 'Onde' [Wave] pool, the park’s big square that extends for more than 2,800 square meters, the Kamikaze (with the two 90-meter slides, one of which you descend at almost 70 km/h), Extreme River (a water game unique in Europe, a half pipe as high as a five-story building with its thrilling 16-meter descent) and all the park’s other attractions, for a total of 3 km of slides, are found inside.

Rome, May 25th (Adnkronos) - An agreement with the Lazio Region and the inauguration of the new Costa Concordia ship in the port of the capital in Civitavecchia: these are the elements on which Costa intends to focus in order to confirm its leading role in the sector and to strengthen its presence in central-southern Italy, area that brings the company around 40% of its turnover in Italy. The agreement that Costa Crociere and the Lazio Region are defining predicts a series of initiatives aimed at promoting Rome and the Lazio territory to the guests of the Costa ships that will stop off in Civitavecchia.

Florence, May 25th - (Adnkronos) - A series of initiatives to spend a weekend in the sign of fun and companionship on Saturday 27th and Sunday May 28th in Greve in Chianti (Florence) and surrounding areas. A photography exhibition, the ''Il Pagliaio'' biological market and lots of music will take place in the main town and small villages.

L'Aquila, May 24th - (Adnkronos) - Continuing commitment of the provincial administration of L’Aquila for the realization of the 'Percorso laghi' [Lakes route] tourism promotion program, a project that focuses on the valorization of the diverse lakes scattered throughout the provincial territory. The administration has in the last few weeks devoted itself to the Campotosto and Scanno lakes, while it now intends to concentrate on Finizzo lake, in San Demetrio dei Vestini. Financial resources of €350 thousand will be allocated for the realization of essential infrastructure like picnic areas and rest areas for camper vans and caravans, with the aim of fulfilling the area’s tourist offer.

Lamezia Terme, May 24th - (Adnkronos) - The 'Equal Tourjob' Project is the main objective of a new network of operators and tourism structures, in Calabria, to upgrade the already existing non-hotel offer and to support the start up and accompaniment of young entrepreneurs. The project will be presented at 10am on Thursday May 25th at the seat of Need Partners in Lamezia Terme, in the province of Catanzaro.

Casale Monferrato (AL), May 24th - (Adnkronos) - The appointment ''Riso e Rose in Monferrato” [Rice and Roses in Montferrato] returns to the green Montferrato hills: in fact, the celebration returns next weekend on the wave of success of the two previous weekends with 48,000 presences, with the involvement and commitment of around 40 member towns and private operators who have together realized the program’s events.

Turin, May 24th (Adnkronos) - The Olympics effect started a year before the winter games and has pushed tourist presences in Turin and the entire provincial territory to levels never before reached: the threshold of 4 million presences was exceeded in 2005 (4,784,400), with an increase of 845,957 presences with respect to 2004 (+ 21.5%). It is the most substantial growth since 1989, year in which they first used software to gather statistical data. The increase in arrivals is instead equal to 31% (+374,895).

Rimini, May 24th - (Adnkronos) - The 3rd Assembly of the Members of the Inter-Mediterranean Association for Tourism has been convened for May 27th in Casablanca (Morocco). The organism was created under initiative of the Rimini Chamber of Commerce during the 2004 edition of the Forum on Tourism in the Mediterranean, with the aim of promoting cooperation and the systematic and complete development of tourism, essential sector for the economy of the Countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea.

Rome, May 24th - (Adnkronos) - Everyone at the sea for the last weekend of May to attend to the health of coasts and seabeds. 'Spiagge e Fondali Puliti' [Clean Beaches and Seabeds] returns from Friday 26th to Sunday May 28th for the 17th consecutive year. Three days of voluntary work organized by Legambiente in collaboration with Corepla, the consortium for plastic recycling and Cial, the consortium for aluminum recycling, in which young and old beach lovers will hunt for rubbish abandoned on the beaches and at the bottom of the sea.

Potenza, May 24th - (Adnkronos) - Basilicata’s agro-alimentary and tourist offer will once again be present with its own big pavilion at Bari’s Fiera del Levante. The initiative, care of the Basilicata Region’s Agriculture Department, will involve the ALSIA (Basilicata Agency for Development and Innovation in Agriculture), the LAGs (Local Action Groups) that enlivened the stand in the 2005 edition, Unioncamere and the Mountain Communities involved.

Rome, May 24th (Adnkronos) - Fiavet has expressed satisfaction over the conferment, to Vice President Rutelli, of jurisdiction over tourism, sector in which Travel Agencies operate and of which they are the recognized center and driving force, with regards to both incoming and outgoing activities, in addition to carrying out the crucial function of servicing the territory, with regards to ticket offices and tourist information. This is the content of a letter sent yesterday to the new minister by President Giuseppe Cassara'.

Riccione, May 23rd - (Adnkronos) - Aquafan, Oltremare, Mirabilandia, Italia in Miniatura, Fiabilandia and Le Navi. These are the names of the big theme parks of the Romagna Riviera that mark the ten-year history and wealth of experiences of Emilia Romagna with regard to fun parks. To valorize this resource, increasingly appreciated by Italian and foreign tourists, the Riccione City Council has given life to a new project entitled 'Riccione citta' dei parchi' [Riccione city of parks]. The aim of the project is to place, at the service of the territory, a formidable tourism promotion and marketing tool, spread by an advertising campaign with an ad hoc brand and the diffusion of informative material on all the theme parks of the area.

Milan, May 23rd - (Adnkronos) - Moby, the leading shipping company for connections to Sardinia, Corsica and Elba, announces the reopening of all the lines, starting from May 25th and until the end of September, thanks to the use of all the ships of the fleet. On the Livorno - Olbia - Livorno route, Moby proposes up to 5 daily connections during the day and overnight for a total of more than 1,000 departures, at very convenient times, studied to best facilitate the demands of travelers.

Urbisaglia (Mc), May 23rd - (Adnkronos) - Urbisaglia (Macerata) is one of the three towns that, according to the Italian Touring Club (TCI), offer the best tourism reception program of 2006. The other two centers are Castelnuovo Bardegna (Siena) and Barberino Val d'Elsa (Florence). The Macerata town, holder since 2004 of the TCI’s 'Bandiera arancione' [Orange Flag], has been awarded the top billing for special reception that it reserves to members of the Club with regards to hospitality and free time through discounts, exclusive benefits and welcome gestures.

Florence, May 23rd - (Adnkronos) - The press conference to present the Florentine seat of the ANPA - National Academy of Hotel Professions, the first 'hotel school' in Italy, created with the exclusive support of the UNAI - National Union of Italian Hotels adhering to Confindustria - and dedicated to the training of human resources to use in the hotel/tourism sector, took place today in Florence at the Hotel delle Nazioni.

Turin, May 23rd - (Adnkronos) - The growth of tourism in Piedmont is not stopping. Tourist arrivals to the sub-alpine region for at least a night numbered 3,289,398 in 2005: 416,756 more than in 2004, equal to an increase of 14.51%. But the true surprise is constituted by the number of presences (number of tourists multiplied by the overnight stays) that for the first time exceeds the 10 million mark: 867,592 more than in 2004, with an increase of 9.29% and an increase in foreign presences reaching 43.69% of the total.

Vatican City, May 22nd - (Adnkronos) - Give attention to the ''weakest: women, children, the poor, the elderly, immigrants and unprotected travelers'' because they can be ''victims of a tourism without rules'', for the benefit ''of the profits of the wealthiest'' who ''can even consider people as ''consumer goods''. This was stated by Msgr. Francesco Brugnaro, permanent observer within the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), at the World Social Tourism Congress that took place in Marseilles from May 10th to 12th.

Rome, May 22nd (Adnkronos) - Le Marmotte opens its doors in Ivrea in Piedmont. The inauguration of the new sales point of the Italian tourism franchise is scheduled for next May 27th in Via Arduino in the heart of the city’s historical center, precisely on the route that leads to the shopping street of Via Palestro. The new Le Marmotte travel agency franchise is run by Davide Bonfadini and Giuliana Clarichetti. The services provided by the air and sea ticket agency include tourist packages and holidays for groups.

Florence, May 22nd - (Adnkronos) - ''Create a system to be once again competitive and to relaunch tourism in Florence and Tuscany''. Closer synergies between public and private and a common front that unites hotels, public businesses and travel agencies: these are the solutions proposed by Aldo Cursano, President of the Florentine and regional Fipe Confcommercio, also recently nominated national deputy Vice President, to confront the aggressive competitiveness of the other tourist destinations, in Italy and overseas.